CineScope

Astronauts

Astronauts Poster

Astronauts was a British sitcom that aired on ITV in 1981. It was written by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, two of The Goodies. Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who wrote Porridge, were script editors. It was made for the ITV network by ATV, which became Central midway through the production run.

Comedy

2.8 / 5

26th October 1981 - 23rd August 1983
Writer
Bill Oddie
Producer
Allan McKeown
Top Cast
Carmen du SautoyBruce BoaBarrie Rutter
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Episode 1 Still
Episode 1
26th October 1981

Episode 1

It's the dawning of a new era. US Air Force Colonel Lloyd Beadle unveils his British space travellers for the press, whose imaginations go into overdrive when they learn that one of the crew is a woman. But Beadle has another ace up his sleeve: Bimbo, a mongrel dog.

Episode 2 Still
Episode 2
2nd November 1981

Episode 2

In their orbiting space station, the crew members are trying to acclimatise themselves while rapidly discovering each other's foibles. Sleep eludes them, and they realise that privacy is a thing of the past...

Episode 3 Still
Episode 3
9th November 1981

Episode 3

Gentian's in charge of the Life Science Projects, and David's doing Earth Observation, Astronomy, Crystallography and Communications — leaving Malcolm doing the dusting. And not terribly well. It takes a major crisis before the Mission Commander finally comes into his own.

Episode 4 Still
Episode 4
16th November 1981

Episode 4

Earthly problems invade the space station and Gentian Foster believes she knows why: Ackroyd's being beastly because he doesn't fancy her, and Mattocks is being patronising because he does.

Episode 5 Still
Episode 5
23rd November 1981

Episode 5

After five weeks of constant surveillance, relations between the crew and Ground Control are strained. So when Beadle disappears for lunch, the astronauts decide to get even.

Episode 6 Still
Episode 6
30th November 1981

Episode 6

Fifty days in space should be newsworthy, but the media has already lost interest. Beadle promises to remedy the situation. Ackroyd, however, is more interested in the potent product of his lab experiment involving yeast, fruit flies and a copious quantity of blackcurrant juice...

Episode 7 Still
Episode 7
7th December 1981

Episode 7

Nine weeks into the mission: depression is rampant. The food is boring. The routine is boring. Then, catastrophe! A wiring fault plunges the station into darkness. With Mattocks and Ackroyd out of action, Foster must rely on Bimbo to save her.